Oil filter and method of assembling the same



Feb. 23, 1937. G. L. MATHESON 2,071,550

OIL FILTER AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME Filed June 15, 1933 Patented Feb. 23, 1937 2,071,550 OIL FILTER AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AME THE S George L. Matheson, Elizabeth, N. J.', assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a come-- ration of Delaware Application June 15, 1933, Serial No. 675,923 1 Claim. (Cl. 210-31) This invention relates to improvements in filters of the type adapted for continuous purification of lubricants circulating through a lubricating system. A principal object of the invention 5 is to provide an efficient sm'all filter of low cost especially adapted for purifying the crank case oil of automobiles. However, the invention is not limited to this particular use, as it finds application in connection .with all types of internal como bustion engines, turbines, and other machines using a continuous oil circulation.

It is well-known practice to provide a small filter of the so-called depth type" charged with a fibrous material to purify the crank case oil of automobiles. Ordinarily the arrangement is such that only a portion of the oil .passes through the filter, through a by-pass connection. Within a reasonable time all the oil will have gone through the filter. I 20 After a more or less prolonged period of use the clarifying medium in the filter must bev replaced. In accordance with the present invention a filter is provided which is very readily recharged.

The invention will be fully understood from the 25 following description, read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred type of filter; Y Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line II-II 30 of Fig: 1; and

- Fig. 3 is a detail view of an alternative form of filter core. I

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral I indicates a container, preferably of cylin- 35 drical form, having a cover 2 secured by any suitable .means, as. bolts and wing nuts 3, to a flange 4 on the container. This has an oil inlet 5 which is connected in any convenient way to the oil circulating system. The cover 2 is rigidly 40 mounted on the car in such manner, as by rivets 3a, that the container may be readily removed by unscrewing the wing nuts.

Within the container I there is a filter box 6 preferably made of sheet metal and having nu- 5 merous perforations in its walls to permit the free entrance of oil. At the top the walls of the foraminous box are extended to form a flanged rim 1 and a plate 8 rests within the rim. An oil outlet pipe 9. extends through an opening I II in 5 the cover 2 and an opening I 0a in plate 8, downwardly toward the bottom of container I. This pipe has perforations II throughout its length. It is connected in any convenient way to the oil circulating system. 55 Encircling the lower part of pipe 9 are one or more layers of a mesh material, preferably coarse 'wire screen I2. 'Over this there is a textile fabric wrapping, such as canton fiannel i3. It is preferable to use a fabric bag or thimble tied at the neck as at I 3a. A wrapping or other cover will serve. A fibrous material adapted for filtering oil is packed around the internal structure of perforated pipe, wire mesh and fabric, just described. This material designated I4, is best an alkaline slag wool such as is described in the ap- 1o plication of Maverick and Matheson, Ser. No. 598,092 filed March 10, 1932. It will be understood, however, that various other fibrous mate- ,rials may be used. The packing of this material around the central element holds the latter in place. The filter box 6 is centered in the container I by means of lugs I5 secured to the walls of container I, a spider construction, or' any other suitable means which will permit the easy withdrawal and insertion of the box 6. 2 In Fig. 3 an alternative form of the internal filtering element is shown. In this a fine wire screen I6 surrounds perforated pipe 8. If. the mesh of this screen is sufiiciently fine, say 50 mesh per inch, it is not necessary to provide a fabric wrapping over the screen. I

When it is desired to change the fibrous material in the filter, the wing nuts 3 are unscrewed, which permits the box 6 to be removed from the rigidly mounted cover 2. The outer container I is lowered and then the inner box 6 is moved downwardly to clear the perforated pipe 9. Top 8 may be designed to remain suspended on that pipe or may come down with the box and then be removed, as desired. The spent fibrous material 'is removed and the assembly cleaned. A fresh supply of fibrous material may be then substituted for the spent material. Usually a new fabric bag or wrapping I3 should be supplied. The

.service station or other supplier will have the 40 fibrous material already mixed with lubricating oil in the form of a mush adapted for immediate use. This is better than charging the box with fibrous material free from oil, though that may be done. The mush can be ladled directly into the box 6, suitably compacted around the central filtering element, and the assembly then returned to the container I. This is then secured in place on the car. The whole operation of changing the fibrous materialcan be effected without any difliculty. The connections to the lubricating system are not disturbed; The assembly is thus well adapted for the use of individual motorists who wish to change their own oil filters as well as for garage servicing.

I am aware that there have been suggestions engagement with said lugs, a cover for the recepmade for replaceable automobile filters but these tacle having a central opening therein, an inlet have ordinarily involved considerable difiiculty pipe opening into the casing through the supin substituting new filter material for the old. porting head, an outlet pipe extending through The arrangement described herein is a preferred said supporting head and through the opening in 5 one but it will be understood that various other the receptacle cover into spaced relation with similar constructions may be adopted. It is my the bottom wall of the receptacle, said pipe havintention to claim all of these which fall within ing a perforate portion disposed within the rethe scope of the appended claim. ceptacle and a fine mesh metallic screen within '1 claim: a bag of textile covering the perforate portion 10 A strainer for lubricating systems consisting of said pipe and extending upwardly through the of a casing removably secured to a cover therecentral opening in the receptacle cover in fricfor affixed. to a supporting head, lugs disposed tional engagement with the edges of said openabout the inner surface of the walls and bottom ing, whereby the screen and bag are maintained of said casing, a perforate receptacle for a filter in operative-association with the outlet pipe. 5 mass disposed within the casing in positioned GEORGE L. MATHESON. 

